Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system encodes a frequency modulation (FM) modulated signal with a time of flight (TOF) signal as a power and frequency modulated signal. The system can emit the power and frequency modulated signal and apply processing to a signal reflection to generate a target point set. The target point set processing can include frequency processing to generate target points based on range and Doppler information, and TOF processing to provide TOF range information. The processing can include an FM processing path to extract FM signal information, and an AM processing path to extract the TOF signal information.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus is provided that includes an optical source to emit a first optical beam having a first frequency and a second optical beam having a second frequency and a dispersive element to deflect the first optical beam having the first frequency at a first angle and the second optical beam having the second frequency at a second angle.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a detection threshold in a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes determining a first confidence threshold with respect to a confidence metric for detecting a first target within a range of frequencies corresponding to a field of view of the LIDAR system, determining a subset of frequencies within the range of frequencies for detecting a second target, wherein a frequency peak associated with the second target has a confidence metric value lower than the first confidence threshold, and adjusting the first confidence threshold to a second confidence threshold at the subset of frequencies for detecting the second target.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system encodes a frequency modulation (FM) modulated signal with a time of flight (TOF) signal as a power and frequency modulated signal. The system can emit the power and frequency modulated signal and apply processing to a signal reflection to generate a target point set. The target point set processing can include frequency processing to generate target points based on range and Doppler information, and TOF processing to provide TOF range information. The processing can include an FM processing path to extract FM signal information, and an AM processing path to extract the TOF signal information.

Abstract: A frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: receive samples of a range-dependent time domain baseband signal; assemble the samples into sample blocks in the time domain; convert the sample blocks from the time domain to the frequency domain; generate subbands in the frequency domain from converted sample blocks; classify the subbands into a plurality of subband types based on subband typing criteria; select subband processing parameters for each of the subbands based on respective ones of the plurality of subband types; and process each of the subbands using the selected subband processing parameters for the subband.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes an automatic gain control (AGC) unit to reduce the dynamic range, reducing processing power and saving circuit area and cost. The system detects a return beam of a light signal transmitted to a target, having a first dynamic range in a time domain. An analog to digital converter (ADC) generates a digital signal based on the return beam. A processor can perform time domain processing on the digital signal, convert the digital signal from the time domain to a frequency domain, and perform frequency domain processing on the digital signal in the frequency domain. The AGC unit can measure a power of the return beam, and apply variable gain in the time domain to reduce a dynamic range of the return beam to a second dynamic range lower than the first dynamic range.

Abstract: A number of measurements of an input spectrum is determined based on a scan mirror speed of the LiDAR system and a predetermined accuracy threshold in the number of measurements of the input spectrum. A set of signals are sampled at the LiDAR system and the set of signals are converted to a frequency domain to generate a set of sampled signals in the frequency domain. The set of signals are received consecutively over time. A set of first functions are created based on the set of sampled signals. The set of first functions are averaged to generate a second function. The second function represents a power spectrum density estimate of the set of signals. A peak value of the second function is detected to determine range and velocity information related to a target based on a corresponding frequency of the peak value of the second function.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system, includes an optical source to generate a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) optical beam, a memory, and a processor, operatively coupled to the memory, to identify energy peaks in a frequency domain of a range-dependent baseband signal that corresponds to a return signal from a reflection of the FMCW optical beam and identify an obstruction of the LIDAR system based on a comparison of a frequency of the energy peaks to a threshold frequency.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system to transmit an optical beam toward a target and receive a returned optical beam. The optical beam includes an up-chirp frequency and a down-chirp frequency, and is modulated to have phase non-linearities. The LIDAR system generates a baseband signal from the returned optical beam, which includes a plurality of peaks corresponding with the up-chirp frequency and the down-chirp frequency. The LIDAR system identifies a first true peak in the baseband signal, and identifies a second true peak in the baseband signal based, at least in part, on a spectral shape of the second true peak caused by the phase non-linearities. The LIDAR system is to determine the location of the target using the first true peak and the second true peak.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus is provided that includes an optical source to emit an optical beam towards a target and a mode field expander operatively coupled to the optical source to expand a mode area of the optical beam from a first mode of a single mode optical fiber to a second mode of a larger mode area optical fiber.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus includes an optical circuit including an optical source to transmit an optical beam, a first optical component to generate a local oscillator from the optical beam, a first optical amplifier to amplify a return signal to generate an amplified return signal, wherein a power level of the local oscillator is comparable to a power of amplified spontaneous emission of the first optical amplifier, and an optical detector operatively coupled to the first optical amplifier, the optical detector configured to output an electrical signal based on the amplified return signal and the local oscillator.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system encodes a frequency modulation (FM) modulated signal with a time of flight (TOF) signal as a power and frequency modulated signal. The system can emit the power and frequency modulated signal and apply processing to a signal reflection to generate a target point set. The target point set processing can include frequency processing to generate target points based on range and Doppler information, and TOF processing to provide TOF range information. The LIDAR system can include a modulator to AM modulate an FM modulated light signal with an active modulator to provide the TOF signal information with the FM modulated signal as the power and frequency modulated signal.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes an optical source and multiple waveguides at different positions within the LIDAR system to receive a return signal. A first waveguide receives a first portion of the return signal at a first angle relative to the scanning mirror and a second waveguide receives a second portion of the return signal at a second angle relative to the scanning mirror. The system further includes multiple optical detectors at different positions within the LIDAR system. A first optical detector receives the first portion of the return signal from the first waveguide and a second optical detector receives the second portion of the return signal from the second waveguide. The system further includes a signal processing system operatively coupled to the plurality of optical detectors to determine a distance and velocity of the target object based on the returned signal and corresponding positions of the plurality of waveguides.

Abstract: A return signal from a target is received based on an optical beam from an optical source of a LiDAR system. The return signal is sampled and converted to a frequency domain, where the return signal comprises a first frequency waveform. A matched filter is selected, where the matched filter comprises a second frequency waveform to match the first frequency waveform. The matched filter is updated by updating a set of coefficients of the second frequency waveform. The return signal is filtered by the updated matched filter to generate a filtered return signal to extract range and velocity information of the target.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system encodes a frequency modulation (FM) modulated signal with a time of flight (TOF) signal as a power and frequency modulated signal. The system can emit the power and frequency modulated signal and apply processing to a signal reflection to generate a target point set. The target point set processing can include frequency processing to generate target points based on range and Doppler information, and TOF processing to provide TOF range information. The LIDAR system can include a modulator to AM modulate an FM modulated light signal with a passive modulator to provide the TOF signal information with the FM modulated signal as the power and frequency modulated signal.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes an optical source to emit a corresponding plurality of optical beams with synchronized chirp rates and synchronized chirp durations. The plurality of optical beams are each tuned to produce regions of constructive and destructive interference into a combined optical beam. A first optical component forms a phase-locked loop to correct nonlinearities detected in the plurality of optical beams. A second optical component transmits a combined optical beam toward a target environment and receives a target return signal. A third optical component downconverts the target return signal to a plurality of fixed frequency downconverted target return signals, each including a target range component and a target velocity component.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting a plurality of optical beams towards a plurality of targets, receiving a plurality of return signals based on reflections of the plurality of optical beams from the plurality of targets, and generating a first plurality of peaks each associated with a different up-chirp frequency of the plurality of optical beams and a second plurality of peaks each associated with a different down-chirp frequency of the plurality of optical beams. The method further includes determining peak shape similarities between each of the first plurality of peaks and the second plurality of peaks, pairing each peak of the first plurality of peaks with a peak of the second plurality of peaks based on the peak shape similarities, and identifying the plurality of targets based on the pairing.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus is provided that includes an optical source to emit an optical beam towards a target. The LIDAR apparatus further includes a mode field expander operatively coupled to the optical source to expand a mode area of the optical beam.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a detection threshold in a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes determining a first confidence threshold for detecting a first target from multiple targets within a frequency range, wherein the frequency range comprises frequencies corresponding to the targets. The method further includes determining a subset of frequencies within the frequency range for detecting a second target. The second target transmits signals within the subset of frequencies lower than the first confidence threshold. The method further includes adjusting the first confidence threshold to a second confidence threshold at the subset of frequencies for detecting the second target within the subset of frequencies and restoring the second confidence threshold to the first confidence threshold outside the subset of frequencies for detecting the first target.

Abstract: A system including an optical receiver to receive a return beam from the target. The optical receiver is to combine a second frequency modulate signal portion transmitted towards a local oscillator with a first frequency modulate portion to produce a beat frequency. The system further including a processor and a memory to store instructions executable by the processor. The processor to sample the beat frequency to produce a plurality of frequency subbands, and classify the plurality of frequency subbands into a plurality of subband types based on a subband criteria. The processor further to select one or more subband processing parameters based on the subband criteria, and process the plurality of frequency subbands, using the subband processing parameters, to determine a range and velocity of the target.